| It is hard to imagine a time when African
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| | fraternity member Kevin Powell will be
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| American students were not fully
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| | one of the panelists. The fraternity is
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| integrated into collegiate life at
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| | also pleased to honor CNN senior
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| mainstream campuses across the country.
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| | correspondent Soledad O'Brien with the
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| Prior to 1906 and the formation of the
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| | Alpha Award of Honor, which is the
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| first Black fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha
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| | highest honor for a non-fraternity
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| Fraternity, Inc., many Black college
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| | member. The organization will also hold a
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| students were ostracized on all-White
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| | special screening of O'Brien's
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| campuses and unable to enjoy the entire
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| | much-anticipated series, "Black in
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| college experience. However, on December
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| | America." In addition, actor Hill Harper
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| 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca,
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| | will also receive the Alpha Award of
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| N.Y., the Alphas became the first Black
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| | Honor for his bestselling books, Letters
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| fraternity, and laid the foundation for
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| | to a Young Brother and Letters to a Young
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| the other eight Black Greek-letter
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| | Sister. On July 18th and 19th, they will
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| organizations. On July 17, 2008 the Black
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| | hold the annual Belford V. Lawson
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| fraternity, known for such prestigious
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| | Oratorical Contest tackling the timely
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| members as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,
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| | question "Is the N-word Really Buried?"
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| Thurgood Marshall and Cornell West will
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| | More importantly is Alpha Phi Alpha's
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| kick off their 102nd Anniversary
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| | commitment to the younger generation.
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| Convention in Kansas City, Mo. "This
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| | Matthews has called for 10,000 members to
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| year's convention is certainly going to
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| | become mentors, to assist in fundraisers
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| be an experience in history in terms of
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| | and to serve local Big Brothers Big
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| the bold political, social and economic
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| | Sisters of America chapters. The Black
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| initiatives we will be conducting in
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| | fraternity will also recognize nearly 20
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| Kansas City," says the fraternity's 32nd
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| | Kansas City high school students for
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| General President Darryl R. Matthews, Sr.
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| | outstanding scholastic achievements and
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| "In keeping with the tradition of the
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| | community service. And on July 21st, the
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| fraternity, Alpha will leave a positive
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| | brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha will host
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| mark on Kansas City, as we have been
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| | their Project Alpha initiative addressing
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| doing for the rest of the nation for more
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| | the dilemma of teenage pregnancy,
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| than a century." The Black fraternity
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| | focusing on safe-sex education and
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| expects over 5,000 members for the
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| | individual responsibility. "During my
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| convention themed, "Developing Leaders
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| | tenure, I strived to continue in the
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| for Service and Advocacy," which will
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| | tradition of which [Alpha Phi Alpha was]
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| feature workshops, business sessions and
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| | founded, to elevate the conversation,
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| appearances by Soledad O'Brien, Hill
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| | mentality and consciousness of our Alpha
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| Harper, Dr. Randall Pinkett and Alpha
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| | brothers," says Matthews. "We need to
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| member Representative Emanuel Cleaver
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| | continue to spark intellectual discourse
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| (D-MO). On the eve of an historical
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| | and be intentional in our efforts to
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| presidential election, Alpha Phi Alpha
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| | create, commit and contribute to the
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| will host a town hall forum entitled,
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| | positive well-being of the communities in
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| "Voteless People is a Hopeless People,"
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| | which we represent."
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| on Saturday, July 19th. The meeting will
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| | Todd A. Smith is the publisher of an
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| discuss important political issues
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| | online magazine dedicated to issues
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| affecting both major party candidates and
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| | affecting African American men. The
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| encourage voter education, voter
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| | website tackles such topics as social and
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| registration and basic civic
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| | political issues, health, relationships,
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| participation. Famed journalist and
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| | business, sports and entertainment.
|
